Liquid pressure conditioner

ABSTRACT

A device including a chamber having inlet and outlet openings on opposite sides thereof, a baffle means disposed therebetween forming compartments. The baffle includes a rigid strengthening member embedded in resilient and pliable material. A plurality of normally closed large openings responsive to a predetermined pressure in either of the compartments are provided and include relatively smaller normally open flow-through openings on opposite sides thereof. The resilient and pliable material of the larger opening upon being displaced outwardly causes the smaller openings to be closed. The frame includes an opening registering with each group of openings including a larger opening and a pair of smaller oppositely disposed openings. The pressure conditioner unit may be used in a liquid distribution system wherein hot and cold water supplies are in communication with the inlet side of the pressure conditioner and means independent of a water heater is provided for drawing liquid from the cold liquid source at times and thereby varying the pressure within the heater container.

United States Patent [191 Weaver [54] LIQUID PRESSURE CONDITIONER [76] Inventor: Donald F. Weaver, Box 208, Grove,

Ark. 72753 [22] Filed: June 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 153,739

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 852,800, Aug. 25,

1969, abandoned.

Primary ExaminerRobert G. Nilson Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte 51 May 22, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A device including a chamber having inlet and outlet openings on opposite sides thereof, a baffle means disposed therebetween forming compartments. The baffle includes a rigid strengthening member embedded in resilient and pliable material. A plurality of normally closed large openings responsive to a predetermined pressure in either of the compartments are provided and include relatively smaller normally open flow-through openings on opposite sides thereof. The resilient and pliable material of the larger opening upon being displaced outwardly causes the smaller openings to be closed. The frame includes an opening registering with each group of openings including a larger opening and a pair of smaller oppositely disposed openings. The pressure conditioner unit may be used in a liquid distribution system wherein hot and cold water supplies are in communication with the inlet side of the pressure conditioner and means independent of a water heater is provided for drawing liquid from the cold liquid source at times and thereby varying the pressure within the heater container.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEB HAYZ 2 I973 SHEET 3 BF 3 z'yf? firromva s LIQUID PRESSURE CONDITIONER This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 852,800 filed Aug. 25, 1969 entitled Liquid Pressure Conditioner, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a water dispensing system and more particularly to an apparatus for controlling the temperature and volume of the water for shower heads, dish washers, lavatory faucets, and the like.

When cold water is drawn from the cold water line of a water system there is a momentary decrease of cold water pressure and flow at the point of use. The hot water from the hot water heater is normally maintained for a short time at substantially a constant pressure at the point of use thereby the resulting mixture is hotter than desired until the cold water pressure is brought back to its previous level or sufficient time has elapsed for the hot water pressure to drop to that of the cold water. The most vivid example of this problem is when the point of use is in a bath shower and a toilet is flushed drawing cold water from the cold water source.

However, with the use of the water conditioner of this invention there is substantially no noticeable change in water temperature upon drawing cold water from the cold water source which is also connected to the hot water heater. Moreover, when the thermostatically controlled mixing valve is placed in the discharge water line, there is no noticeable fluctuation in the water temperature at the point of use.

Thus the water conditioner and the mixing valve serve to maintain a constant water temperature at the point of use when cold water is drawn from the cold water source common to the hot water heater and other equipment.

The pressure conditioner includes a baffle that will cause the pressure in. the chamber to be equalized on opposite sides thereof thus permitting hot and cold water to flow to the thermostatic valve under equal pressure thereby giving the thermostat time to adjust to the desired temperature setting. The same desired result will occur whether it is hot or cold water being drawn off at another outlet.

The baffle in the pressure conditioner includes a plurality of large openings having a pair of relatively small openings on opposite sides thereof. The baffle is formed of rubber material which is resilient and pliable such that when pressure causes the slit forming the large opening to open the displaced material will cause material to fill the smaller openings. Under low pressures the smaller flow-through openings will allow water to flow in either direction through the baffle and tend to equalize the pressures. When the pressures are high the smaller flow-through openings are closed and the larger openings are opened thereby giving better pressure control at the thermostatic valve until the thermostat in the valve has adjusted to the change in temperature and pressure of the water being fed to it.

Therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to provide an automatic temperature controlling means for water dispensing devices. v

A further object of this invention is to provide a selective water temperature dispensing means that has a volume regulating means at the point of water exit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a selective water temperature and volume control means at more than one location but operating off of the same water supply.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide a selective temperature water dispensing means that is economical to manufacture and durable in use.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of one embodiment of my invention for selectively controlling the temperature and volume of exiting water at a single point of use;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the mixing valve used in each of the embodiments of my invention to control the temperature of exiting water;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of another embodiment of my invention for selectively controlling the temperature and volume of water at several points of use while using a single source of water supply;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrical control assembly used to operate the mixing valve assembly and the valve in the outlet conduit; l

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the pressure conditioner unit employed in the water system of FIGS. I

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6 6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the baffle structure of the pressure conditioner unit;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8 8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9 9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the baffle showing the slit opening normally closed and the flowthrough openings normally open; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the slit opening open which causes th smaller flow-through openings to close.

When like elements are used in each of the embodiments, common numerals are used in the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a conventional water heater 7 is connected at its lower end by a pipe 11 to a cold water source (not illustrated). A pipe 42 extending from the top of the water heater 7 is connected to the inlet lower side of the chamber in a pressure conditioner unit 1.

The outlet side on top of the pressure conditioner unit I is connected by a pipe 12 to a mixing valve 9. The mixing valve 9 includes a housing 10 which has a conduit 11 in communication with the source of cold water, and the conduit 12 in communication with a source of hot water through the unit 1, and an outlet conduit 13 extends from the housing to a point of use, a shower head 15. The volume of water at the shower head is controlled by the solenoid actuated valve 28 in the outlet conduit 13.

Referring to FIG. 2 it can be seen that the housing 10 includes a passageway 16 connecting the cold water inlet and the outlet conduit 13. To control the water in this passageway, an ordinary solenoid actuated valve 17 has been inserted. A second passageway 19 in the housing connects the hot water inlet to the outlet conduit 13. In this passageway is a solenoid valve 20. A third passageway 22 in the housing 10 connects the mixing chamber 21 with the outlet conduit 13. The mixing chamber 21 includes an ordinary thermostatic controlled valve 35 between the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet.

Referring again to the embodiment in FIG. 1, it can be seen that the hot water from conduit 12 passes through the pressure conditioner unit 1 which is connected to a conventional hot water heat 7 by pipe 42 and the cold water conduit 11 is connected to a source of cold water at the cold water connection on the water heater.

The pressure conditioner 1 is shown in FIGS. 11 and includes an elongated cylindrical in cross section tank 70 having a chamber therein divided into compartments 73 and 74 by a baffle 80. The body of the pressure conditioner is formed from plastic using an injection molding process. During the molding process one end is left open and is shown closed by a cap 82 which is sonically welded to the body at 84. A pair of support shoulders 86 at opposite ends of the body hold the baffle 80 in a centrally disposed position in the chamber.

The hot water inlet line 42 (FIG. 3) is connected to an inlet opening 88 in communication with the compartment 74 while a pair of outlet openings 90 in communication with the compartment 73 are connected by lines 12 to the mixing valve 9.

The baffle 80 includes a stainless steel rigid strengthening support plate 92 having a plurality of circular openings 94. The plate 92 is embedded in rubber material 96 which is resilient and pliable. A plurality of elongated slits 98 extend substantially along the diameter of the openings 94 and include edges in substantial mating engagement when the slit opening is closed. A pair of smaller openings 100 normally open are provided on opposite sides of each of the slits 98 in the area of the opening 94 in the frame 92. Thus, upon pressure in either of the compartments 73 or 74 being sufficient to spread the edges of the slit 98 apart the displaced resilient rubber material will close the smaller openings 100. Otherwise when the larger opening formed by the slit 98 is closed the smaller openings 100 will allow liquid to flow in either direction through the baffle. Accordingly, the smaller openings function at low pressures and the larger openings function at high pressures. The elongated slit 98 may be generally straight but be wavy in appearance.

In FIGS. and 11 the larger slit opening 98 is first shown closed in FIG. 10 with the smaller flow-through openings 100 being open and then in FIG. 11 the opening 98 is open with the smaller openings 100 being forced closed by the material being displaced outwardly from the slit opening 98 filling the smaller openings 100. Accordingly, through use of the baffie of this invention it is possible to maximize the pressure control at the mixing valve 9 thereby maintaining the water temperature uniform at all times.

I claim:

1. A liquid pressure conditioner unit, having a chamber formed therein and an inlet opening in communication with said chamber, said unit having an outlet opening in communication with said chamber at a point remote from said inlet opening into said chamber,

a baffle means in said chamber between said inlet and said outlet forming two compartments,

said baffle means being formed of resilient and pliable material and having at least one opening normally closed and being responsive to a predetermined pressure in either of said compartments to open, a normally open substantially smaller flowthrough opening formed in said baffle in close proximity to said normally closed larger opening whereby upon pressure in either compartment being sufficient to open said larger opening said smaller flow-through opening is closed.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said resilient pliable material displaced out of said larger opening causes resilient pliable material to fill said smaller opening.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said smaller flow through opening is one of two normally open smaller flow-through openings on opposite sides of said larger opening.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said larger opening is further defined as being a slit, said slit having opposite side edges in substantially mating contact when said larger opening is closed.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said larger opening is one of a plurality of similar larger openings between pairs oppositely disposed smaller openings.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein a rigid strengthening frame is embedded in said resilient pliable material, said strengthening frame having an opening registering with each group of openings including a larger opening and a pair of smaller oppositely disposedopenings. 

1. A liquid pressure conditioner unit, having a chamber formed therein and an inlet opening in communication with said chamber, said unit having an outlet opening in communication with said chamber at a point remote from said inlet opening into said chamber, a baffle means in said chamber between said inlet and said outlet forming two compartments, said baffle means being formed of resilient and pliable material and having at least one opening normally closed and being responsive to a predetermined pressure in either of said compartments to open, a normally open substantially smaller flow-through opening formed in said baffle in close proximity to said normally closed larger opening whereby upon pressure in either compartment being sufficient to open said larger opening said smaller flow-through opening is closed.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said resilient pliable material displaced out of said larger opening causes resilient pliable material to fill said smaller openiNg.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said smaller flow through opening is one of two normally open smaller flow-through openings on opposite sides of said larger opening.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said larger opening is further defined as being a slit, said slit having opposite side edges in substantially mating contact when said larger opening is closed.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said larger opening is one of a plurality of similar larger openings between pairs oppositely disposed smaller openings.
 6. The structure of claim 5 wherein a rigid strengthening frame is embedded in said resilient pliable material, said strengthening frame having an opening registering with each group of openings including a larger opening and a pair of smaller oppositely disposed openings. 